WHERE ARE THEY NOW? SPECIAL – The Spice Girls

An update on where the Spice Girls are now and what’s yet to come…

With the news that the Spice Girls are to release an expanded edition of their 1997 album, “Spiceworld”, let’s take a look at what the five ‘girls’ have been up to since their hit making days and what they have planned for the future.

“Spiceworld” was the quintet’s second studio album released in November 1997, just a year after their debut. Four singles were promoted from the album including three UK number ones, “Spice Up Your Life”, “Viva Forever” and “Too Much”, which also made the top ten in America. “Spiceworld” itself went on to sell over fourteen million copies worldwide including four million plus copies Stateside and, appropriately, five Platinum discs back home.

The album would result in a bittersweet finale as Geri would depart the band before the release of the fourth and final single, “Viva Forever”. After that, the group would continue as a quartet until they too would call it a day in 2000. There have been reunions and reunion tours since with an odd mix of one in-one out as each Spice Girl has carved out their own solo career in a variety of media.

Melanie B – Scary Spice

Mel B has done it all. TV presenter, actress, songwriter and she’s even found time to record singles on her own and with others. Her most recent was “For Once In My Life” in 2013 while she hasn’t recorded a solo album since 2005. She took to the Broadway stage in 2017 as Roxy Hart in Chicago, while in 2021, Mel appeared in the second series of The Masked Singer, but finished up in 11th place.

Emma Bunton – Baby Spice

As well as the odd TV appearance, Emma has mainly focused on a music career on her own with some considerable success. After a gap of thirteen years, she returned in 2019 with the album “My Happy Place“, having achieved a string of top ten hits in the early 2000’s. She reached the semi finals of Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 and from 2009, was a regular host on Heart FM radio eventaully gaining her own show, which she presented until 2018.

Melanie C – Sporty Spice

Mel C has also done a bit of acting but mostly enjoyed huge success as a solo singer with a run of multi-Platinum albums to her name. Her most recent came out in 2020 while more recent than that, she reunited with Bryan Adams for a new version of their 1998 smash hit, “When You’re Gone“, in 2022. Mel will publish her autobiography later in 2022 and has also started writing for what will be her ninth solo studio album.

Geri Halliwell – Ginger Spice

Geri left the group in 1998 to pursue a solo career and with some success too with four consecutive number one singles. Her last was “Angels In Chains” in 2017. Since then, she’s turned her hand at presenting, writing books and of course, her famous yoga workout videos! In 1998, Geri became a goodwill ambassador for UNFPA raising awareness of HIV/AIDS particularly in pregnant woman. She has travelled to Zambia and Nepal to see for herself the extent of what women suffer.

Victoria Adams – Posh Spice

Like the others, Victoria also went into a solo career after the band split in 2000, but a spate of badly-timed releases curtailed any lasting success. Her debut single, “Out Of Your Mind”, peaked at No.2 in 2000 while the following year she released “Not Such An Innocent Girl” the same week that Kylie released “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head“! She walked away from music soon after and developed her own line in ladies fashion, which has also branched out into cosmetics. She married footballer David Beckham in 1999 and the pair have four children.

The fivesome reunited in 2007 for a greatest hits album and a tour, which sold out in 38 seconds! The recorded a new song, “Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)”, before returning to their individual occupations once more. Five years later, they were back for a special one-off performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games closing ceremony, while Geri, Mel C, Mel B and Emma got back together in 2016 for a new world tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of “Wannabe”.

2021 saw an expanded edition of their debut album “Spice” in celebration of its 25th own anniversary and now to compliment that, a 25th anniversary edition of the follow up is scheduled for 4th November 2022. Fittingly, the album will carry no less than 25 tracks with live versions of the singles and remixes together with a ‘party mix’ to wrap things up.

Looking ahead to 2023, there are strong rumours of another reunion tour and it could be with all five members! Now who would have though it! Viva forever.